Progress

We officially broke ground on the house about three weeks ago and the slab was poured last week! They started the framing on Monday so it should really take shape soon! YEAH! There are lots of decisions ahead! Below are a few progress pictures... I know it's not much to look at now, but it's still really exciting!

The lot prior to any clean up

After the tree clean up...

And now... the slab.

July 4th

We had a wonderful long weekend to celebrate the 4th! We kicked it off Friday by going with John and Heather to take all the kiddos to see Ice Age. It was really cute and Owen especially loved it because there were a lot of dinosaurs in it ("ROARRRR!" - as Owen said throughtout the movie) Saturday, we took Owen to the parade in Belton, had dinner with Beau, Ashley and Peyton and then watched fireworks in Temple. Owen watched the fireworks for about 5 minutes and then proceeded to dig in the dirt. Peyton on the other hand watched them very closely but she wasn't too sure about them... she wanted as far away from them as possible... that happened to be Andy's lap so she sat with him for the whole show ;) Sunday, Andy and I took Owen to a water park at the city park in Gatesville. He loved it of course... anything outside and with water will make his day!

Owen and Peyton waiting for the fireworks...these two are a mess!

I can't get a good picture of me and Owen to save my life... this is as good as it gets.

The best seat in town!

My baby is a PRESCHOOLER!!!!

I receive weekly emails about Owen's development from a wonderful website at http://www.babycenter.com/. I have been a memeber of this site ever since I was pregnant and it's fantastic! While pregnant, I got weekly emails about my baby's growth and development and the membership has continued since I had Owen. Just after I had him I would receive emails titled, "Your 3 Week Old"... after his first birthday I was shocked with the new titles, "Your Toddler-Week 6". But most shocking of all was last week when I received my weekly email and it was titled "Your PRESCHOOLER..." WHAT?! I couldn't believe it! Is he really now considered a preschooler? He's only two! Just like that my little baby is a preschooler! I wasn't ready for that one... they should give you a warning before sending out emails like that. We survived another birthday party ;) It was extremely hot but we made it! I had rented a bouncy house but I could have skipped it b/c the kids mostly played on the slip 'n slide and in the pools I had set up... I can't blame them... I was melting myself. Owen had a blast and got a lot of great new toys along with some adorable new clothes :)

I can't believe it's been two years since he arrived! He has been such a joy and a blessing to our family. This last year has been so fun watching him learn and watching his personality bloom. I am looking forward to the coming year as he has really started talking and I know he is going to have a lot to say... although, I think I will still call him my baby... even if he is a preschooler!

Unfortunately, the only picture I got of the bouncy house was after the kids left and Andy and Scott decided to give it a try... did that thing have a height requirement?...

Scott really enjoyed the slip 'n slide after the kids left... boys will be boys ;)

A Hair Cut.. FINALLY!

We finally took Owen for his first hair cut... can you believe it! It was the day before his birthday... I never thought he would be two before we cut his hair! Despite the taxi chair and Elmo movie in front of him, he was NOT having it! I ended up holding him while he screamed

through the whole thing but luckily it didn't take long. He looks adorable with his "little boy" hair cut ;) Sorry I don't have an after picture... we had to get out of there quick!

ALMOST TWO...

Owen will be two years old a week from today and I just can't believe it!!!! The first year went by really fast and while this year didn't seem to go by quite so fast, it's still just unbelievable that we have a two year old! He's definitely NOT a baby anymore! He is talking all the time and more and more words come together each day! He has been flexing that independent muscle and we've caught a glimpse of the "terrible 2's" but this truly is a very fun age! He is so loving and often stops playing just to give us a hug or a kiss ;) He brings such joy to our whole family; I can't imagine life without him. It must have been pretty boring before he got here... we just didn't know it at the time.

SUMMER FUN!

Owen has already been enjoying the water activities that come with summer ;) He especially loves the pool. He's been asking about it ever since I put it up last Sunday so I'm sure we'll get it out again this weekend :) Here's some pictures of my sun baby!

Relaxing on the Slip 'N Slide

Slip'N

"napping" on the Slip 'N Slide - with a golf club ;) (if only you could hear the "snoring"! LOL)

Loving the pool


And then we lost the swim suit ;)

Saying Goodbye

It was a bitter sweet day this Friday as we closed on the sale of our home. It was pretty tough to say goodbye to our first home and the only home Owen has ever known. We have had it up for sale by owner since January and I am proud of us for selling it ourselves and not listing it with a realtor. The truth is I called to list it about a month ago (it was a Wednesday) and made an appointment for a realtor to come that Saturday to list it. As I was getting off the phone with the realtor he said "maybe you'll get lucky and sell it before I come out on Saturday." Well...the day after I spoke to him I got a call that we would be receiving an offer that evening from someone that looked at the house in January! They didn't even want to see it again! (a single man, go figure) Amazing! So we have been moving for the last three weeks and officially said goodbye on Friday :( I will miss that house but we are excited to move on to a new chapter and build our own home. :)